LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

HI DR LAM.
i think this question has been asked before, but i just cant find it anymore in your blog.

As a plastic surgeon yourself who performed millions of surgeries in your hands, would you consider getting some yourself? Would you consider getting plastic surgery so you can really feel the same thing that your patients go through? Or would u say it's unnecessary?

I know you specialize in facial only, but in terms of plastic surgery in general. What would you say is the most useless ps? What would you say is the most useful?

thanks dr lam.

of course i would. in fact, i was just about to undergo neck and body smart lipo/VASER lipo upstairs in my anti-aging center last week but they found that my hormones were off-balanced a bit so i have now been recommended to start with testosterone/thyroid t3 rebalancing. I always said that if my hairline recedes, I am getting hair restoration. However, beyond that I don't see anything else that I am uncomfortable with myself with, at least right now.

As far as the most useless thing that is done in PS today, my opinion is filling Restylane as a knee jerk reaction into smile lines. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry does that down the street but in most cases it does not really matter. I make a judgment in about 1 of 10 people I will fill it. The other one that is pretty close is filling little wrinkles around the mouth that only a woman can see 2 inches away. Almost every single female coming into my office is bothered by their wrinkles, when NO ONE ELSE can see them. I want the money you spend with me to be worth it. If you still want to do it after my education, that is fine.

The most horrible thing that is done out there right now is traditional eyelid surgery, meaning cutting and pulling without replacing volume. I think the results look horrible, risk eyelid pull down and eyeball exposure, and radically alters identity not to mention accelerates a person's age instead of rejuvenates that person.

The most beneficial thing that I do in many cases is facial fat grafting in getting someone more youthful and making them still look entirely like themselves. However, given the criticism of my colleagues who don't get what I do, I think it is one of the most misunderstood things that I do as well.
Good question,
SML

Hi Dr Lam
Thanks for your reply.

1) Would you say women who spend thousands and thousands of dollars on cosmetics/ skin care/ spa place are stupid {some brands include: SK2, Sisley, ChristineDior,....those are the few brands that are the most expensive in my research..} What is your opinion on this? (now...i understand that u are a facial surgeron....but i am sure most ppl out there want to hear an opinion from a medical professional, if you dont mine ..please state your opinion, thanks)

2) Like you mentioned, a person looks older is usually caused by:
-smoking, taking drugs, drinking
-been out in the sun too much/long
But does 2nd hand smoker damage your skin too? well both of my parents are smokers, but i dont smoke...so will that cause my skin to age faster? What is the best way to keep the skin young, besides using lotion with sunscreen & staying away from the sun.

3) In asian skin, the tendency of scars from pigmentation is very high...meaning once there are scars, it's very hard/also take very long time to fade away. Let say, if a person have pimples and of couse that will leave black dots/marks/scars behind. What is the best way to make those fade/ go away asap, besides staying away from sun, use sunscreen, no picking on them...but old scar go away a bit...and new pimples come again............ Does taking birth control pills help the skin / pimples since it controls / balances your hormone? Does that affect future prenancy? Is there any medicine out there that controls your hormone to prevent pimples but not prevent birth (cause i dont really need to control birth).

4) The area / skin under /around the eye in any person tend to show a person's age the most....what can be done to that area to slow down aging? skincare products? botox around that area? etc...???

5) In the world of plastic surgery, what would you say is the most Intense surgery out there? (in my opinion it's Leg lengthening in china)
What is the most simple surgery out there (in my opinion, i think it's botox or other injections) Please state your opinion Dr Lam.

Thanks
You are an excellent doctor/ surgeron!!!

Have a great day!

HI,
MY RESPONSES ARE BELOW IN ALL CAPS AGAIN:

1) Would you say women who spend thousands and thousands of dollars on cosmetics/ skin care/ spa place are stupid {some brands include: SK2, Sisley, ChristineDior,....those are the few brands that are the most expensive in my research..} What is your opinion on this? (now...i understand that u are a facial surgeron....but i am sure most ppl out there want to hear an opinion from a medical professional, if you dont mine ..please state your opinion, thanks)

I HOPE NOT SINCE I HAVE JUST POURED CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS INTO A NEW 5,200 SQUARE FOOT SPA THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. I THINK PAMPERING AND MAINTENANCE ARE GREAT THINGS.

2) Like you mentioned, a person looks older is usually caused by:
-smoking, taking drugs, drinking
-been out in the sun too much/long
But does 2nd hand smoker damage your skin too? well both of my parents are smokers, but i dont smoke...so will that cause my skin to age faster? What is the best way to keep the skin young, besides using lotion with sunscreen & staying away from the sun.

SECOND HAND SMOKE CAN DEFINITELY BE DAMAGING BUT I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT IN EVERY CASE. ALSO, BOTOX FOR SOMEONE STARTING TO SHOW WRINKLES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TREATMENT TO PREVENT WRINKLES, PERIOD. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEELS, ETC. PLEASE CHECK MY BOTOX LEARNING MODULE AND VIDEO CONSULTATION TO UNDERSTAND MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS MATTER.

3) In asian skin, the tendency of scars from pigmentation is very high...meaning once there are scars, it's very hard/also take very long time to fade away. Let say, if a person have pimples and of couse that will leave black dots/marks/scars behind. What is the best way to make those fade/ go away asap, besides staying away from sun, use sunscreen, no picking on them...but old scar go away a bit...and new pimples come again............ Does taking birth control pills help the skin / pimples since it controls / balances your hormone? Does that affect future prenancy? Is there any medicine out there that controls your hormone to prevent pimples but not prevent birth (cause i dont really need to control birth).

THAT IS A QUESTION THAT A SURGEON SHOULD NOT ANSWER. YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH MY ANTI-AGING AND VITALITY CENTER WHICH IS HELPING A 39 YEAR OLD SURGEON (ME) BALANCE MY HORMONES. THEIR NUMBER IS 972-312-8881 AND THEIR WEBSITE IS ANTIAGINGANDVITALITY.COM.

4) The area / skin under /around the eye in any person tend to show a person's age the most....what can be done to that area to slow down aging? skincare products? botox around that area? etc...???

YES, BOTOX AND SKIN CARE PRODUCTS, SUN AVOIDANCE, ARE VERY IMPORTANT. ALSO, STOP LOOKING TOO CLOSELY AT THE MIRROR. WOMEN, IN PARTICULAR, TEND TO BE VERY JUDGMENTAL UP CLOSE.

5) In the world of plastic surgery, what would you say is the most Intense surgery out there? (in my opinion it's Leg lengthening in china)
What is the most simple surgery out there (in my opinion, i think it's botox or other injections) Please state your opinion Dr Lam.

THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN DO NOT PERTAIN TO ME SINCE I AM A FACE SPECIALIST. THIS FORUM IS INTENDED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT I DO BETTER AND NOT FOR ME TO MAKE CONJECTURES ABOUT THE WORLD OF PLASTIC SURGERY IN GENERAL. I JUST WANT TO BE APPROPRIATE WHEN I ANSWER QUESTIONS AND NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF MY SPHERE OF EXPERIENCE. BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUERIES.

best,
sml

Hi Dr Lam,
I am sorry for asking you so many random plastic surgery questions and at the same time spamming on your forum. Sorry about that.

Regarding question#4, how early is too early in using botox to prevent aging / wrinkles? I remember in one of your video, u stated that using botox to prevent aging is like using a hanger to hang your clothes (clothes = skin, hanger = botox; therefore prevent aging). Is early 20s too early to have botox under the eyes, cheeks, forehead, etc to prevent aging?

Also, you mentioned in one of your videos, that using fat grafting to add volume to the necessary area of the face, so the face will be all balance out and under the different angles of light, a person's face will be balance, harmony, young looking, beautiful, etc....so in general how early is too early to have this? (note: i cant rememeber word for word of waht you said, i hope you get the point)

I guess these two questions really depends on the individual, so consulation inperson will be the best solution. Anyhow...whenever i am ready i will contact you. Thanks for everything.
Have a great day Dr. Lam

I think it is hard for me to answer broad questions of this type as you would imagine. Aging, sun damage, etc. can play a huge role in aging that lead to advanced biologic age despite a young chronologic age. Only a consultation with me will help differentiate whether you would be a good candidate for any such services.
best,
sml